Apparatus to expand and mount solid resilient tires on channelled wheels or rims



6, 1951 R. SHERRICK 2,574,195

APPARATUS TO EXPAND AND MOUNT SOLID RESILIENT TIRES ON CHANNELLED WHEELSOR RIMS Filed Feb. 27, 1946 INVENTOR wosziz'r L.SHEI2I2ICK aw 8gp?ATTORNEYS iatented Nov. 6, 1951 OFFICE APPARATUS TO EXPAND AND MOUNTSOLID RESILIENT TIRES ON CHAN- NELLED WHEELS OR RIMS Robert L. Sherrick, Akron, Ohio Application February 2'7, 1946, Serial No. 650,411

2 Claims.

This invention relates to tire mounting apparatus and more especially itrelates to apparatus for mounting endless tires of rubber or rubber-likematerial upon wheel rims that are provided with grooves in which thetires are received.

The invention is of primary utility for mounting small endless rubbertires upon the wheels of baby carriages, scooters, velocipedes, toywagons and the like wherein the wheels have tirereceiving rims whichhave greater over-all diameter than the inside diameter of the tires tobe mounted thereon. At one time, tires of the character mentioned weremade in continuous length and formed with an axial aperture. The tirematerial, after vulcanization, was cut into shorter lengths suitable fora single tire, and mounted on a wheel rim by means of a wire cable thatwas inserted through the tire, the ends of the cable being joined duringthe assembling oi the tire with the rim. The arrangement was notentirely satisfactory since a gap was left in the tire at the junctureof the cablesufficiently to pass the tire thereover, and thereafter tore-shape the rim to its original form.

The procedure was laborious and time-consuming, and it is to the reliefof these conditions that this invention primarily is directed.

The chief objects of the invention are to provide improved apparatus formounting an endless tire of rubber-like material upon a wheel rim; toprovide apparatus of the character mentioned that is simple inconstruction and rapid and efficient in operation; to provide apparatusthat does not mar the rim and does not unduly strain the tire; and tosave time and labor in the mounting of the tires. Other objects will bemanifest as the description proceeds.

Of the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a front elevation of apparatus embodying the invention, andthe work therein, ready for operation;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section of the apparatus on the line 2-2 of Fig.1 showing an operating pedal;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the apparatus on a larger scale,showing the worksupporting elements; g

Fig. 4 is a section, on a larger scale, on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawing, there is shown a tablecomprising the usual legs l0, l0 and a top H, the latter adapted to holdwork pieces to be assembled and provided with a marginal flange l2 toprevent said work pieces from falling therefrom. The work-pieces consistof a wheel is having the usual marginal groove M to receive a tire, andI5 is a tire that is receivable in said groove.

Positioned upon the table top H is a circular work-support l8 for awheel It, said work-support preferably being located at the geometriccenter of said table top and rem-ovably secured in place by a rod orpost l9 that is axially threaded thereinto from the under side thereof,said post extending downwardly through a suitable aperture in the tabletop and having its lower end connected to a shelf-like structure 20 nearthe bottom of the table. The top face of the worksupport l8 is formedwith a centrally disposed concavity or dished portion 2! in which aconvex side of a wheel structure I3 is receivable so that the rimportion of the wheel in which the marginal groove [4 is located may restflush upon the top surface of the work-support, as is clearly shown inFig. l. The upper end of the post I 9 is provided with an axial stud orpilot 22 that extends through the work-support and upwardly therefrom,said pilot adapted to extend through the usual axle opening in a wheelI3 to center the latter upon the work-support.

The periphery of the work-support I8 is formed with a plurality ofradially disposed slots 24, 24, herein shown as four in number, whichslots are symmetrically arranged in the worksupport. The table top Ii isformed with a similar group of slots 25, 25, Fig. 4, which may be ofsomewhat shorter length than the slots 24. When the work-support i8 isproperly positioned upon the table top H, the slots 24, 25 arecoincident, their inner ends being the same distance from the axis ofthe work-support. Extending through the respective slots 25 and locatedin slots 24 are the upper end portions of a plurality of movable fingers28, 26. The lower ends of the fingers 26 are pivotally mounted inrespective bearing blocks 21 that are mounted upon a verticallyreciprocable plate or platform 28 located an appreciable distance belowthe table top H. The said platform 28 is formed with a central aperturethrough which the post H! exextend an appreciable distance above thework's,

pieces in position, operation of the apparatus is effected simply bydepressing the pedal end of the foot lever 36 against the tension ofsprings 38.

Operation of the foot lever 36 as described draws the platform 28downwardly to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, with theresult that the fingers 26 with the tire l5 carried thereby are moveddownwardly. Because of the angular position of the fingers 26, movementthereof relatively of the closed ends of slots 24 ,causes the free endsof said fingers to swing support [8 when the apparatus is in theinoperative position shown in Fig. 1, said upper end por= disposedsubstantially in vertical position. The

inclined fingers 26 rest against the inner or closed ends of slots 24 inthe work-support 18, which is stationary; vertical position varies withthe raising and lowering of the platform 28 on which their bearingblocks 21 are mounted. Thus, when the platform 28 is lowered, forexample, from the full line position of Fig. 1 to the broken lineposition of the same figure, the fingers move to a more nearly erectposition as shown. During such movement the end walls of the slots 24,against which the fingers rest, act as fulcrums for the fingers, and theend portions of the fingers above said fulcrums move radially outwardlywith relation to the work support, the fingers thus constituting, ineffect, levers of the first class. It is this outward movement of theterminal portion of the fingers that is utilized to stretch theworkpiece I 5 as presently will be explained.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the raising and lowering of the platform 28is manuall effected, and to this end the said platform is provided onits under side with stiffening webs 30, 30 disposed at right angles toeach other, and pivotally con"- nected to diametrically opposite webs,at the outer margins thereof, are two downwardly extending links 3|. Attheir lower ends the links 31 are pivotally connected at 32 torespective parallel levers 33, 33 that are pivoted at 34, Fig. 2, on theframe H1 at the rear thereof. At their forward ends the levers 33 areconnected to each other by a cross-piece 35 and secured to the latterand extending forwardly therefrom beyond the front or" the apparatus isa pedal or foot lever 36'. The

latter normally is maintained in elevated position against transverseportions of the frame), as shown in Fig. 2, and to this end a cross-arm31 is fixed to the foot lever and projects laterally from opposite sidesthereof. Tension springs '38 are connected to the respective ends ofcross-arm 31 and to fixed points on the under side of table top I I soas normally to exert an upward pull on the foot lever, and thereby tohold the platform 28 and tire-engaging fingers 26 inelevated,inoperative position.

In the operation of the apparatus, assuming the latter to be in thefull-line inoperative position shown in Fig. l, a wheel [3 is mounted'upon the work-support [8 where it rests in the eoncavity 2i, the stud22 serving to" center the wheel- One side of the rim portion of thewheel, in which the wheel groove 14 is located, restszfiushupon thework-support, the perimeter of the wheel being disposed adjacent to, butnot in contact with, the end portions of the fingersZB-that extendupwardly through the slots 2:4" .01 the work-support. After the wheel I3is mounted, a'

rubber tire I5 is mounted upon the: fingers 26 as shown, which mountingreadily may be effected: by slightly deforming the tire.

consequently their deviation from.

outwardly, radially of the work-support l8 and wheel [3- thereon, withthe result that the tire I 5 is stretched circumferentially to greatersize than the wheel I3, and thus is enabled to move intocircuit-scribing relation to the latter as its downward movement bringsits central plane into coincidence with" the central plane of the saidwheel. Descent of the tire I5 ceases when it rests upon the top of thework-support I8, but the fingers 26 continue to move downwardly andthereby are withdrawn from engagement with the tire. The inherentelasticity of the latter then causes it to contract to its normaldiameter, and it snaps into place in the peripheral groove of the rim ofthe wheel l3. The wheel with tire thereon is then manually removed fromthe apparatus, and the foot lever 36 is Permitted to rise, thus raisingthe platform 28 and fingers 26 to their normal inoperative position.

This completes a cycle of operation, which is repeated as rapidly aswork can be mounted in the apparatus.

The invention is simple in construction, rapid and eflicient inoperation, and achieves the other advantages set out in the foregoingstatement of" objects.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5 is essentially similarto that previously de= scribed, and difier's'therefrom solely in themeans employed to actuate the apparatus, power being employed in lieu ofmanual effort. As shown in Fig. 5, the platform '28 carrying fingers 25is mounted upon the upper end of the piston rod 40 of a verticallyarranged fluid pressure operated cylinder 4| that is pivotally mountedat its lower end upon the shelf 20. Inlet-and-outlet pipes 42, 43 areprovided for charging and discharging opposite ends of the cylinder inalternation to effect lowering and raising of the platform 28, andthereby to operate the fingers 26 in the manner previously described. Aplurality of guide rods 44 secured at their opposite ends in the shelf20 and table top H are slidingly received in suitable apertures or slots(not shown) in the platform 28, thus serving to guide the latter and toprevent rotary movement thereof. The worksupport I8 is secured to thetable top in any suitable manner, and is provided with an upstandingaxial stud 45. The fiuid conducting pipes 42; 43 extend to the usualoperating valve as is well understood.

Other modification may be resorted to without departing from the spiritof the invention or the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

what is claimed is:'

1. In a device of the character described the combination of a tablehaving a plurality of spaced openings in the top thereof, a wheelsupport on the top of said table and having a plurality of radial slotsdisposed outwardly of the grooved rim portion of a wheel thereon, saidslots being in vertical alignment with said openings, a finger extendingthrough each alined With. the works 11 opening and slot and adapted tosupport above a wheel on said wheel support an endless elastic tire uponthe upper end portions of the fingers by engagement with the innercircumference of said tire, the outer periphery of said rim portionbeing of greater diameter than the inner periphery of said tire bothbefore and after the tire is mounted on said rim, said fingers incliningtoward the axis of said Wheel support at all times and bearing againstthe inner ends of the radial slots therein, means for moving the fingersand tire downwardly while the inner ends of said slots act as fulcrumsfor the fingers to move the latter outwardly and stretch the tirecircumferentially until the latter is in circumscribing relation to thewheel, said downward movement carrying the upper ends of said fingersbelow the top face of said wheel support whereby said fingers arewithdrawn from engagement with the tire and the latter snaps into thegroove of said rim.

2. In a device of the character described the combination of a wheelsupport comprising a circular structure having a concavity in its topface to receive the bulging medial portion of a wheel while the groovedrim portion of the wheel rests flush against the top face of thesupport, said support formed with radial slots disposed outwardly of therim portion of a wheel thereon, respective fingers extending throughsaid slots and adapted to support above a wheel on said wheel support anendless elastic tire upon the upper end portions of the fingers byengagement 6 with the inner circumference of said tire, the outerperiphery of said rim portion being of greater diameter than the innerperiphery of said tire both before and after the tire is mounted on saidrim, said fingers inclining toward the axis of said wheel support at alltimes and bearing against the inner ends of the radial slots.

therein, means for moving the fingers and tire downwardly while theinner ends of said slots act as fulcrums for the fingers to move thelatter outwardly and stretch the tire circumferentially until the latteris in circumscribing relation to the wheel, said downward movementcarrying the upper ends of said fingers below the top face of said wheelsupport whereby said fingers are withdrawn from engagement with the tireand the latter snaps into the groove of said rim.

ROBERT L. SHERRICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 244,365 Anderson July 19, 1881560,354 Hain May 19, 1896 1,578,760 Replogle Mar. 30, 1926 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 627,563 Germany Mar. 18, 1936

